Steven Gerrard has returned to the Liverpool XI for tonight's League Cup semi-final first leg against Chelsea.

The Reds captain will start in central midfield in what is again a 3-4-3 system, while Raheem Sterling also starts in attack.

Emre Can retains his spot in the back three, but there is no room for Rickie Lambert or Adam Lallana, who are both on the bench.

Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho, meanwhile, has recalled first-choice goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois in place of Petr Cech.

It is a fairly reserved central midfield for the visitors, with John Obi Mikel coming in alongside Nemanja Matic. As a result, Cesc Fabregas will start further forward, in support of leading scorer Diego Costa.

Brazilian midfielder Oscar, meanwhile, who scored twice in the 5-0 win over Swansea City in the league at the weekend, is only on the bench.

TEAMS

Liverpool: Mignolet; Can, Skrtel, Sakho; Henderson, Lucas, Gerrard, Moreno; Markovic, Coutinho, Sterling

Chelsea: Courtois; Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry, Luis; Matic, Mikel; Willian, Fabregas, Hazard; Costa

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